Tape dispenser



June 28, 1949. ,J. A. BORDEN TAPE DISPENSER Original Filed July 31, 1936 ing a section of the tape.

Reissued June 28, 1949 TAPE DISPENSER John'A. Borden, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Original No. 2,221,213, dated November 12, 1940, Serial No. 93,661, July 31, 1936. Application for reissue February 3, 1949, Serial No. 74,281 Renewed September 9, 1939 Claims. 1

This invention relates broadly to a device for sustaining and dispensing rolls of ribbon-like material and more particularly to a device for retaining and dispensing rolls of adhesive tape of a nature such that temporary adhesion between successive layers of the tape in the roll will normally prevent the tape from unrolling except when removed from the roll by the user.

This invention finds particular utility for holding and dispensing pressure sensitive adhesive tape, such, for example, as the ordinary surgeon's tape and such tapes as are disclosed draw the loose end from the outlet and necessitate rethreading of the tape through the dispenser outlet upon the next occasion for remov- Furthermore, the dispensers previously known to me have been objectionable in that the dispenser outlet has usually consisted of a closed passageway through which the tape must be threaded. Another objection to dispensers previously known to me lies in the fact that the end of the tape is not readily accessible to be rasped by the use for withdrawal. Still further objections to dispensers previously known to me reside in the fact that when such dispensers are placed upon a desk or support it has been necessary to fasten the dispenser to a. supporting surface by screws, clamps or other more or less permanent fasteners.

The principal objects and advantages of this invention reside in the provision of a device for containing and dispensing a roll of adhesive tape which is simple and economical of construction and of such a nature as to readily allow the insertion of a roll of the adhesive tape, and the removal of the same or its core when desired, and one provided with means for severing any desired length of the material from the roll, and further provided with means for retaining the free end of the tape in a convenient position for removal of a following portion of the tape, such means being adapted for preventing the accidental displacement of the free end of the tape from its proper position for the removal of a succeeding portion of the tape; the provision of an improved dispenser for a roll of adhesive tape so constructed that replacement rolls of the tape can be easily and readily in serted; and the provision of an improved dispenser for pressure sensitive tape which will afiorcl means for the efiicient and accurate dispensing of the tape and thus avoid waste, and wherein such means are visible at all times.

This invention has as a further object the provision of a container for tapes of such a construction and provided with such means as will enable it to remain firmly in place upon the supporting surface during use and at the same time be easily removable from one place to another as desired, thus imparting to the device full portability.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a dispenser wherein the free end of Figure '4 is a detail view of the combined I severing and retaining means.

Referring now to the drawing, I provide a base portion [0, which is preferably made in a single casting of iron or other suitable metal to provide a member having considerable weight. This base member is provided with a plurality, conveniently four, rubber suction cups ll, fastened to the base H) by threaded lug screws I2, which are screwed into complemental threaded apertures provided in the bottom of the base Ill. Thus, due to the weight of the entire container assembly, particularly that of the base 10, the suction cups H obtain a firm grip upon any surface 13, upon which it may be supported, and efiectively retain the dispenser in position during use while at the same time enabling it to be moved from place to place if desired.

Upon the base 10 I provide a roll supporting structure comprising the two side walls I! which are bent at their ends to form the end portions l5 and I6 and which are mounted upon the basein same larly bent members l1 and II to which the 'end portions l8 and I 8 of the side walls II are respectively secured by any convenient means such as spot welding. The members I! and I8 have angularly bent horizontal portions l8 and 28 respectively which are fastened to the base member ID by any convenient means such as, for instance, rivets or bolts 2|, all as clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawing. Also supported by the member I8 I provide the member 22 which comprises the tape supporting severing and releasing means employed by me and is shown in detail in Figure 4. The member 22 is removably supported on the member l8 by means of a clamping member 23 which has a hole threaded to receive a screw 24 which passes through a complemental hole in the members l8 and I8 and through the slot 25 provided in the member 22. The means for clamping the member 22 to the support is clearly shown in Figure 2. The side members ll, supporting members I! and I8 and clamping member 23 are conveniently made out of any desired sheet metal having the required strength for the purposes of the structure. However, it is obvious that the side members ll could be made of one or more sections of light cast material or of other suitable construction.

Reverting now to the combined sustaining, severing and retaining member indicated generally as 22, this comprises a piece of plate steel and includes the shank 28 provided with a slot 25 above referred to affording means for clamping this member in position on the support. The upper end of this member 22 is bent to provide a generally arched shaped portion indicated at 21 which. may conveniently include a plurality of angularly related portions, as shown in Figure 4, or may have a single curved portion, but which in either case presents a supporting area indicated at 28 which serves as a means not only for supporting but for retaining the severed end of the tape as will be later described. The outer end of the member 22 beyond the arched'portion is bent sharply upward to provide a severing portion generally indicated at 29 having a severing edge 30 which is conveniently serrated or formed 4 also the tape being removed from the roll has its adhesive side downward.

Referring again to the side wall members ll, these are cut away beyond the spindle notches II and adjacent to the end which supports the member 22 as shown at I! to afford easy access to that portion .of the tape between roll II and the member 22.

Thus it will be readily seen that in the operation of this dispenser the roll of tape 38 is mounted upon the drum 2!, which is then placed in the dispenser and supported by the shaft 22 in the notches I I. The free end of the tape then passes from the roll over the area 28 and the cutting edge 38. The desired portion of the tape can then be removed by. pulling upon the free end 88 and when the desired portion has been reof a plurality of sharp points or teeth as shown in Figure 4. I

Reverting now to the side wall members ll,

these are provided with notches 3|, preferably inclined, which receive the projecting ends of the shaft 32 of a drum 33. The drum, which is adapted to receive the roll of tape to be dispensed,

, is generally indicated at 84. The drum 33 is conveniently made of sheet metal forming a closed cylinder of a thickness which can conveniently be accommodated between the spaced walls ll so as to allow free rotation of the drum and shaft 32 in the notches 3|. The roll of tape is wound upon a core 35, which usually fits snugly upon the drum 33. r

The adhesive coated tape indicated at 36, when removed from the roll ll pulls away from the roll at a constant angle due to the adhesion between the pressure sensitive adhesive coated side of the tape and the back of the underlying layer in the roll. The spindle notches 3| are so placed relacoming in contact with the cutting edge 38 and moved from the roll by merely bringing the tape downward it will first contact the area 28 and be held in position by the adhesive action of the pressure sensitive coating of the tape upon the area 28; a further downward movement then causes the tape to come in contact with the severing edge 38 and the dispensed portion is thus severed. Subsequent portions are successively removed by grasping the portion 38 between the area 28 and the roll, lifting the tape slightly and again removing the desired portion by. pulling upon the free end of the tape. Furthermore, when a portion has been removed the free end is retained in position by the adhesive action of the coating of the tape on the support 28 and also to a certain extent by the contact of the severed end with the severing blade.

It is further apparent that this device is effectivein operation and eliminates the need for elaborate dispensing apertures which make diflicult the threading of the tape through such apertures.

It is also apparent that between the support or area 28 and the severing edge 38 there is a groove or trough 88 which is formed by the bending of the member 22. As the tape is dispensed and severed. by edge 38 any excess of adhesive scraped or otherwise removed thereby is deposited in said groove or trough 38 and thus prevents the fouling of the severing edge 38. Further, obviously, the groove or trough facilitates the cleaning of the device, in that any residue of adhesive left on the teeth'is forced down into the groove by the severing of the following piece of tape and this accumulation of adhesive is removed from the trough from time to time, thus the teeth of the cutting serrated edge are kept clean.-

It is believed that the operation and using of my invention has been fully described and disclosed in the above description of my invention.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device for dispensing adhesive tape of the pressure-sensitive type, a roller for supporting a coil of tape, a frame in which said roller is supported for rotation, a standard formed on said frame opposite to and spaced from said roller, said standard carrying a member having a smooth, hard surface to which said tape will lightly and detachably adhere by reason of its forth in claim 1 in which said hard-surfaced i member, cutting edge and trough are formed as a unitary sheet metal strip.

3. A device for dispensing tape coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive comprising means for rotatably supporting a roll of said pressuresensitive adhesive tape, a severing edge and a surface positioned between said roll supporting means and said severing edge to which said tape will lightly and detachably adhere by reason of its pressure-sensitive coating when brought into contact with said severing edge, said surface being closely adjacent to but narrowly spaced from said severing edge by an intervening valley.

4. A device for dispensing tape coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive comprising a support for a roll ofsaid pressure-sensitive adhesive tape which permits free rotation of said roll, an element providing a smooth hard surface and termine-ting in a severing edge, said smooth hard surface being closely adjacent and in fixed relation to said severing edge and located between said severing edge and said roll support, said smooth hard-surface being so positioned that said tape will adhere thereto when its pressure-sensitive adhesive coated side is brought into contact with said severing edge, the area of said smooth surface being such as to provide adherence of the tape thereto with sufficient firmness to support and retain the end of the tape and prevent accidental displacement thereof under normal conditions of usage, connecting members joining said roll support and said smooth surfaced member in fixed relation to each other, so that when tape iswithdrawn from said roll and its pressuresensitive adhesive side is brought toward the severing edge, it will first contact and adhere to the surface of said smooth surfaced member and then, upon a slight further movement, will contact said severing edge, thus severing the desired strip of tape, said smooth surface serving to anchor the tape against sidewise movement on said severing edge during the severing operation, the aforesaid connecting members intermediate the roll support and said smooth surface receding sufllciently far below a line extending from the center of the roll support to said smooth surface so as to provide an open space permitting grasping of the tape with the fingers for detachment thereof from said smooth surface for withdrawal of a portion of said tape from said roll thereof said device serving to retain the tape in convenient position for grasping at all times, to avoid wrinkling the tape and to provide a clean-cut strip, and to prevent smudging the very ends of a v dispensed strip of tape during the act of dispensing.

5. A device for dispensing tape coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive comprising means for rotatably supporting a roll of said pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, a member fixed to said roll supporting means and comprising a smooth hard surface to which said tape will lightly and detachably adhere by reason of its pressure-sensitive coating when brought into contact therewith, said surface extending away from said roll supporting means and terminating in a severing edge, the area of said smooth surface being such as to provide adherence of the tape thereto with sufficient firmness to support and retain theend of the tape and prevent accidental displacement thereof under normal conditions of usage, said severing edge being so disposed that when the tape is moved toward it, said tape will first contact said smooth hard surface and on slight further movement will contact said severing edge, said severing edge being closely adjacent to said smooth hard surface so that the tape is retained by the latter against side-wise slippage during the severing of a strip of tape on said severing edge, there being a free space between said tape engaging surface and said roll in a manner permitting the portion of tape extending from said roll to said surface to be grasped with the fingers for detachment from said surface for withdrawal of a portion of said tape from said roll thereof.

" JOHN A. BORDEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

